THE ART OF THE RELIEF-BLOCK PRINTChildren's Book Council Feature; Spring, 2003

Stephen Alcorn relishes the challenges inherent in the linocut print, pushing them and exploiting them
to achieve effects that are truly ground breaking and uniquely his. Indeed, his investigation of the linocut
medium has been a kind of odyssey in which each discovery has led to a new vision, and the territory to
be explored is apparently boundless.

A wide range of images exemplifying Stephen Alcorns penchant for translating complex themes
into visual signs, patterns, and rhythms that can effectively be cut and/or engraved.

Price range: c. $100 - $200, depending on dimensions of print.

Sample of technique:

Howling at the Moon(also featured in the Folklore category)

DARK OVER LIGHT PRINTS

In these prints two or more colors are printed in the traditional manner of relief-block printmaking,
which consists of printing dark tints over light tints.

Price range: $150 - $250, depending on dimensions of print, and on number of colors employed.

Sample of technique:

Sabina Reading(also featured in the Self Portraits/Family category)

LIGHT OVER DARK PRINTS

The delicate quality of the dark lines and the transparent quality of the overall surface of these prints is achieved by reversing the traditional cutting and printing technique and thereby printing the principal block in a semi-opaque white over a previously printed dark background. By cutting away areas of the dark background the white of the paper is permitted to function as highlight

Price range: $200-300, depending on dimensions of print,s and on number of colors employed.

Sample of technique:

The Finish Line(also featured in the Folklore category)

RAINBOW INKINGS

Through the manipulation of color with palette knives and rolling techniques, gentle, painterly
gradations of tone,
akin to those of a rainbow, are achieved.

Price range: $150-250, depending on dimensions of print, and on number of colors employed.

Sample of technique:

The Wishing Well(also featured in the Folklore category)

REDUCTION PRINTS

A reduction print is made with the use of a single block. Through a series of progressive cuttings, inkings, and printings, the image slowly emerges while, paradoxically, the actual block is destroyed. A reduction print can therefore never be reprinted. All reduction prints are finite and are limited to 12 -18 prints per edition.

Price range: $250 - $500, depending on dimensions of print, as well as on the size of the edition.

No part of this web site may be reproduced, in any form, by any means,
including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, or otherwise,
without prior written consent of Stephen and Sabina Fascione Alcorn.